Player-piano mechanism



l. P. HULDER.

PLAYER PIANO MECHANISM.

APPLlCATION FILED AUG.28, 1918.

1,341,425. Patented May 25, 1920.

Y 1a 36:77 I

36 a I i 3531 33 9 l) UNITED STATElg JOSEPH 1. HULDEB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

, A SIGNGR TO AUTO PNEUMATIC ACTION COMPANY, A CQRPORATION 018 NEW YORK.

PLAYER-TIANO MECI'IANISM'.

Application filed August 28, 1918.

mechanism and particularly to improved connecting devices between the several op erating parts.

In the form of player piano mechanism to which my invention particularly relates, a series of striker pneumatics are used, one for each note of the instrument, and each pneumatic is connected to actuate the corresponding piano action by engagement with the wippen thereof. Adjustment is always necessary to eliminate lost motion between the parts, and this adjustment as commonly provided is. relatively inaccessible when the player action is in. operative position.

It is one object of my invention to provide an improved form of connection be tween the striker pneumatic and the wippen in which provision is made for convenient adjustment without removing the action from the instrument.

A further object of my invention is to provide a flexible element in said connection by the use of which the quality of tone is improved.

A third object is to provide a convenient adjustable stop by which the travel of the striker pneumatic may be controlled without changing the normal position of the parts, and therefore without affecting the striking force of the pneumatic.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of my invention is shown in the drawing which represents my improvements as applied to a common from ofplayer piano action.

Referring to the drawing, 10 indicates the wippen of a piano action, pivoted at 11 to a hinge member 12 secured to a rail 13. An abstract 14 is connected at its upper end to the wippen 10 and at its lower end engages an adjustable lifting screw 15 fixed in the rear end of the usual piano key 16. The lower end of the abstract lei is guided.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Serial No. (351,801.

by a link 1'7 pivotally supported at 18. The common striker pneumatic 20 is also shown.

All of the parts thus far described are of the usual construction and form no part of my invention, which consists entirely in improved connecting devices between the pneumatic 20 and the wippen 10. These connecting devices will now be described.

An arm 21 is pivoted at 22 to a hinge member 23 fixed to a frame member 24. The arm 21 is connected to the movable leaf of the pneumatic 20 by a link 25 having its upper end extending through a hole in the free end of the arm 21 and having its lower end threaded and extending through an opening in a plate 26 secured to the pneumatic 20. Adjusting nuts 27 define the position of the link 25 relatively to the plate 26.

A flexible member 28 is pivoted at 29 to the arm 21, the outer end of said member engaging the under side of the wippen 10 which may be provided with a cushioning layer 30 of leather or other suitable material.

The flexible member 28 is preferably formed of resilient sheet metal and is provided vith an upward projection 31 having a recess therein through which extends an adjusting screw 32 threaded through an upwardly extending lug 33 of the arm 21. A spring 3 1- is interposed between the projection 31 and the lug 33, said spring surrounding the serew 32 and forcing the projection 31 outward against check nuts 35 on the outer end of the screw 32. By turning the screw 32 the position of the flexible member 23 relative to the arm 21 may be adjusted to take up any lost motion between the pneumatic 20 and the wippen 10.

A stop 36 is formed on the end of a screw 37 threaded in a bar 38 supported by braces 39 above the rail The stop is positioned for engagement by the lug of the arm 21, and thus limits the closing movement of the pneumatic 20.

The adjusting screws 32 and 37 are both readily accessible from the front of the in strument, and the adjustment of any individual action may be readily accomplished without removing any part oftheinstrument from operative position. Furthermore, it will be seen that the travel of the pneun'iatic 20 can be adjusted by the screw 37 without in any way changing the position of the pneumatic or altering the range of movement thereof. Such an arrangement is manifestly more desirable than one in which the position of the movable leaf of the pneumatic is varied, thus changing the striking force of the pneumatic.

The flexibility of the member 28 constitutes an important feature of my invention, and the quality of tone produced by this mechanism is superior.

I-Iaving described my invention, it will be evident that changes and modifications can be made therein by those skilled .inthe art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the claims, and I do not wish to be otherwise limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is- 17 In a player piano having a striker pneumatic and a wippen, connecting devices between said pneumatic and said wippen comprising an arm movably mounted on a fixed support, a connection between said arm and said pneumatic, a resilient member mounted on said arm and effective to yieldingly engage said wippen, and means to adjust said member relative to said arm.

2. In a player piano having a striker pneumatic and a wippen, connecting devices between said pneumatic and said wippen comprising an arm pivoted to a fixed support, a link connecting said arm to said pneumatic a resilient member pivoted to said arm and effective to yieldingly engage said wippen, means to adjust said member relative to said arm, and. an adjustable stop for said arm, said adjusting means and said adjustable stop being both accessible and operable from the side of the mechanism remote from said wippen.

3. In a player piano having a striker pneumatic and a wippen, connecting devices between said pneumatic and said wippen comprising an arm pivoted to a fixed support, an operative connection between said pneumatic and said arm, a separate wippenengaging member mounted on said arm, and means to adjust said member relatively to said arm, said adjusting means extending toward the front of the piano and being thereby readily accessible from the front of the instrument while the parts are in relative working position.

4, In a player piano having a striker pneumatic and a wippen, connecting devices between said pneumatic and said wippen comprising an arm pivoted to a fixed support and having an upward projection, a separate wippen-engaging member pivoted to said arm and having an upwardly extending portion, and an adjusting screw threaded in the projection of said arm and. extending rearwardly to engage said portion of said member, whereby said parts may be conveniently adjusted while in relative working position.

5. In a player piano having a striker pneumatic and a wippen, connecting devices between said pneumatic and said wippen comprising an arm pivoted to a fixed support and having an upward projection, a separate wippen-engaging member pivoted to said arm and having an upwardly extending portion, an adjusting screw threaded in the projection of said arm and extending rearwardly through said portion of said member, a nut on said screw engagin g said upwardly extending portion on one side, and a spring surrounding said screw and disposed between said arm and said portion of said member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aiiixed my signature.

JOSEPH P. HULDER. 

